When you think about giving your skin the care and nourishment that it needs, the first thing that likely comes to mind is a well-balanced skin care routine. While the right combination of skin care products is a great place to start, there are other ways to amp up your routine and one major (and fun) way to do so is with a facial.
This skin treatment has become standard practice in the beauty community for its many benefits that cater to your skin and wellness. Similar to skin care products, you can choose from various types of facials to address each of your skin care concerns. If you’re ready to treat yourself or want to add a new service to your dedicated skin care routine look towards facials as the pick-me-up your skin deserves. Below, learn about six different facial treatments to help lock down the right one.
A facial is a popular wellness and skin care practice that provides a relaxing experience while thoroughly cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing the skin with specific tools, techniques and products, per the Cleveland Clinic. All facials are non-invasive or minimally invasive since they don’t require penetrating the skin deeply, confirms the Cleveland Clinic.
Many facials (including the ones listed below) can resurface the skin with needles, lasers and chemicals (aka chemical peels), however, they’re all gentle enough for in-office treatment without downtime. So you can get a facial in the morning and still meet up with friends for lunch (your skin may be a little red depending on the type of facial).
Ultimately, the best type of facial that you choose should depend on your skin type and any specific skin concerns you may have. If you’re staring at a long list of facials and unsure where to start, always speak to a skin care professional for more specific guidance on the type of facials best suited for your needs.
If you’re eager to try out a facial, learn about six main types of facials for you to choose from. Keep in mind that you’ll want to keep facial applications to the professionals for the best experience and to avoid damaging your skin.
For those looking to keep things nice and simple in the facial department, you can’t go wrong with a classic facial. Known as a one-shot deal that tackles most of your skin care needs, this facial treatment combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction (removing blemishes like blackheads safely) and hydration into one service to help you beautify your complexion. An excellent option for those who want an introduction to the world of facials, this service will most likely be listed as a traditional or classic facial on a spa menu.
During your appointment, your facialist will usually pick products made specifically for your skin type in order to give you r a customized service. This service lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and doesn’t have any downtime since it’s not invasive (except for any scraping tools used to gently extract any acne).
You can DIY a facial that mimics this service with your usual skin care routine, along with a spa-like face mask. After cleansing and exfoliating your skin, add an even layer of the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox and Brighten Face Mask to your entire face, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. The charcoal-enriched clay mask will detoxify your skin of impurities like dirt, debris and oil for a clean, rebalanced complexion with an illuminated appearance.
If you’re dealing with acne scars, wrinkles or an uneven skin tone, consider a microneedling facial or acupuncture facial. These types of facials are designed to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve facial elasticity, per the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI), by inserting tiny needles into the muscles of the head, face and neck. Microneedling and acupuncture facials create controlled damage in the skin to promote safe repairing for firmer and smoother skin, confirms the Cleveland Clinic. This facial usually takes 30 to 45 minutes and skin may appear pink or red after the session, but after one to two days all redness is reduced and your complexion will appear smoother with minimized blemishes.
After your microneedling facial, keep your face clean and balanced with non-irritating skin care products that won’t bother any freshly needled areas. Make sure you keep your skin moisturized to combat dehydration and better help it repair itself. Reach for a hydrating moisturizer like L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Micro Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides Line-Plumping Water Cream which deeply nourishes and plumps skin with its lightweight texture that absorbs and locks in moisture.
Give your skin the illuminating and radiant look it deserves with a brightening facial,also referred to as LED Light therapy. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this type of facial utilizes different forms of LED lights (blue light, red light, yellow light and infrared light) and liquid exfoliants to improve the skin's appearance. This facial choice is ideal for those who want glowing skin and a more even skin texture.
A 2014 study from the NCBI concluded that brightening facials, like red light therapy, helped rejuvenate skin and promote collagen production to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. A brightening facial can last from 20 to 30 minutes depending on the LED device used and following the facial, skin will be more sensitive to the sun, confirms the Cleveland Clinic.
A popular facial service amongst celebrities and the skin care-obsessed alike is an IPL facial (intense pulsed light therapy) that has gained popularity over the years — based on the many videos on social media of people trying this service. According to the Mayo Clinic, this facial rejuvenation procedure uses an intense laser directly on your skin. The laser beam destroys the outer layer of skin; this process works to stimulate collagen growth and improve skin tone and texture over time. It also works to decrease the appearance of fine lines, scars, and sun damage.
This type of facial penetrates the skin deep to target pigmentation issues and differs from brightening facials and LED light therapy which mainly work on the surface with added exfoliants. Depending on the desired results, you may need to undergo three to six treatments to reduce deep pigmentation concerns. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) recommends this type of facial and skin service only for those with light complexions, as some IPL devices don’t work well on darker skin tones. Always work with an experienced skin professional who can cater to your complexion to avoid burning or damaging your skin.
There is no denying that exfoliation goes a long way in giving you a flawless complexion, and a microdermabrasion facial is no exception. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), microdermabrasion is a non-invasive treatment that consists of using a handheld device to gently remove the top layer of skin. This facial typically takes about 30 to 40 minutes and once complete, a moisturizer is applied to the skin.
The AAD also shares that while there is no recovery period, the skin may swell and can turn pink or red afterward, but those side effects typically go away quickly. As for the results, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons states that microdermabrasion is used to combat dull skin, even skin texture and tone and reduces the appearance of age spots and dark spots like post-acne marks.
If your skin is crying out for moisture that no facial cream can remedy, first consider getting a new moisturizer, and also try out a hydrating facial for ample nourishment. As the name suggests, this type of facial treatment provides your skin with the maximum levels of moisture to give your skin a soft and balanced feel.
During this treatment, your facialist will cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize your face while focusing deep in the skin to promote collagen and rehydrate skin. An excellent choice for individuals with dry skin or anyone who wants to boost their skin with hydration, this treatment will whip your skin back into shape. There’s no downtime for this facial, after pumping your skin with hydration you’re ready to go with refreshed skin.
Base your facial schedule on the specific type of facial that you get. Each facial will have different recovery times and session recommendations to target your specific skin concern. Some facials — like microneedling, brightening, IPL and microdermabrasion — that are used to target concerns like dull skin, fine lines, wrinkles and facial hyperpigmentation will require more sessions for the best results. Ultimately, you can get a facial every three to four weeks (with guidance from an expert of course), depending on how your skin reacts to the service.
You should get a facial whenever you start noticing skin concerns that your skin care alone can’t tackle. It’s also wise to get regular facials to combat concerns before they appear. If your complexion is lacking hydration or appearing dull, get a facial. If you want to try a non-invasive option for signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles, get a facial.
And if you’ve had an extra stressful day at work or school and need to feel refreshed, get a facial. Truly, there is no specific time that you need to get a facial, but for the best benefits consider making facials a monthly part of your skin care routine for an added pick-me-up.
Next: 11 Skin Care Tips and Products to Help You Achieve Clear Skin
Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn; Art Director: Hannah Packer; Associate Creative Producer: Becca Solovay; Production Assistant: Jason Parigian; Digital Tech: Sam Kang; Photo Assistant: Hannah Lewis-Lopes; Makeup Artist: Jonet Williamson; Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi ; Wardrobe Stylist: Melina Kemph; Wardrobe Assistant: Kayla Martinez; Prop Stylist: Katrina Rozeville; Prop Assistant: Zach Molina; Model: Alexandra Cunningham
This site is for US consumers. Cookies, related technologies and device identification are used for Personalized Advertising. To learn more, or opt-out, visit AdChoices and our privacy policy, terms of use and CA privacy
Your Privacy Choices
Notice at Collection
